OCZ Launches VeloDrive PCI-Express SSD for Enterprise

We love solid state drives because of the impact they have on overall system performance. Faster load times, snappier system response, and even some applications benefit from improved read and write times, as compared to mechanical hard drives. But where SSDs really spread their wings is in the enterprise environment. This, along with small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) is where OCZ is aiming its new VeloDrive PCI-Express SSD.

"The VeloDrive is the latest addition to our comprehensive lineup of PCI-Express SSDs. A truly configurable solution, it helps a range of customers accelerate their application performance," said Daryl Lang, VP of Product Management, OCZ Technology Group. "The ability to run the VeloDrive in multiple modes provides clients with the freedom to use the raid stack of their choice. This maximizes performance and creates faster, more seamless deployments with RAID stacks that may already have been qualified for their unique usage model."

OCZ's VeloDrive can run in either hardware or software RAID mode and will fit into both half-height or full-height systems. And with speeds of up to 1GB/s and 130,000 4KB random write IOPS, OCZ says enterprise clients won't have to worry about SATA/SAS bottlenecks with this SandForce SF-1565 based SSD.

Interestingly enough, the VeloDrive is built around MLC NAND flash memory chips instead of the more common (in enterprise environments) SLC memory. It comes in 300GB, 600GB, and 1.2TB configurations.